The Center for Gifted Education in Science (Director Professor Son Hong-chan) competed in the '2023 National Research Presentation Contest for University-Affiliated Centers for Gifted Education in Science (Sasa Program)', hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and organized by the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity. The center achieved remarkable success with six teams winning awards, including the Minister's Award from the Ministry of Science and ICT.

At the contest, which featured 132 teams and approximately 600 students from the Sasa Programs of 27 university-affiliated centers for gifted education in science nationwide, the Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Center for Gifted Education in Science won the Minister's Award in the Earth Science category of the middle school Sasa Program. The Earth Science team—Kim Tae-woo, Seong Do-hyun, Oh Eun-seo, Lee Jun-gi, and Im Seo-jin—under the supervision of Professor Jo Gyu-seong, was awarded for their research titled 'Exploration of Rock Classification Using Deep Learning.'

In the middle school Sasa Program mathematics category, the Mathematics team—Kwon Chae-eun, Kim Chae-rin, Lee Tae-hwan, and Han Min-joo—supervised by Professor Jeong Eun-hee, received the President's Award from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology for their research titled 'Design of a Hangeul Cipher and Mathematical Investigation.'

In addition, in the middle school Sasa Program biology category, the Biology team—Moon Dong-yeon, Jo Jun-won, Choi So-eun, Choi Si-yeon, and Han Ju-han—supervised by Professor Gu Ja-chun, earned the Chairperson's Award of the Korea Foundation for the Advancement of Science and Creativity for their research on 'Enhancing Rice Salt Tolerance by Halophilic Bacteria Derived from Halophytes.' In the middle school Sasa Program IT Convergence category, the IT Convergence team—Kang Tae-seong, Kim Hyung-dam, Lee Jun-woo, and Hong Chae-hyun—supervised by Professor Kim A-mi, received the Chairperson's Award for their study 'Profanity Detection Using Transfer Learning in Deep Learning.'

Additionally, in the middle school Sasa Program physics category, the project 'Solution-Phase Synthesis of ZnO Nano-Rods and Analysis of Their Optical Characteristics' (supervisor Professor Kim Hee-dae) and, in the chemistry category, the project 'Study on Permanent Removal of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Using Carbonate Ion Precipitation Reactions' (supervisor Professor Park Jong-ho) were each awarded the Encouragement Award by the Council of Directors of University-Affiliated Centers for Gifted Education in Science.

Professor Son Hong-chan, Director of the Center for Gifted Education in Science, commented, "I am pleased that the research efforts of students and faculty over approximately eight months have produced a variety of excellent outcomes at this national Sasa Program research presentation contest."

Meanwhile, the JBNU Center for Gifted Education in Science is operated with funding from the Ministry of Science and ICT's Science and Technology Promotion Fund and Lottery Fund.